Insulating covering for fittings



Sept. 2, 1930. E; A. SMITH lINSULATING COVERING FOR-FITTINGS Filed Sept.14. 19277 INVNTOR. E dwar'd A. 15m/'fh ATTORNEYS.'

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Patented Sept. 2, 1930 EDWARD A. SMITH, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO INSULATING-COVER/ING FOR FITTINGS Application led September 14,1927. Serial No.219,539.

My invention relates to` pipe fittings, anged or otherwise, such as areused in heating systems, and it has particular reference to insulatingcoverings therefor which, as

heretofore practiced, involve the tedious operations of first applyingto a fitting a covering coat of cement, then the insulating casing,usually asbestos or an asbestos composition, and then a finishing coatof cement covered by canvas or any other suitable fabric.

To effect the repair of leaky joints of the fitting, it is of coursenecessary to destroy the insulating casing to effect its removal andthus gain access to the fitting. This obviously renders the materialemployed unfit for further use and thus necessitating completerebuilding of the covering, in the manner described, to again insulatethe fitting.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide 2O an insulating covering'forflanged and similar pipe fittings which is capable of being quicklyapplied to the fitting to the elimination of the time and skill requiredin the old method above referred to, and when applied insulating thefitting more effectively by reason of the formation of a dead air spacebetween the covering and the fitting.

Itis also a purpose of my invention to provide a covering which,incident to repair, can

se be readily removed from the fitting without in any manner injuringthe covering, thus permitting it to be reused indefinitely.

I will describe only one form of insulating casing embodying myinvention and will then point out the novel features in claim.

Fig. 1 is a view showing in side elevation and partly in section oneform of insulating casing embodying my invention in applied position toa flanged pipe fitting;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the insulating covering in applied position tothe fitting and with a portion of the covering in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. l is a view showing an insulating covering in end elevation and inapplied position to the fitting; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the casing sections on a reducedscale.

Referring specifically to the drawings, my

invention in its present embodiment is shown applied to a flangedfitting of T form, and consequently the covering is constructed to adaptitself to this particular form of fitting although it will be understoodthat the construction of the covering can be varied to render itadaptable to other forms of fittings such as elbow, Y, and crossfittings. The casing in the present instance is in the form of a hollowhousing` split longitudinally so as to dfunlde it into two companionsections adaptablyconnected to each other to permit the readyapplication and removal of the covering to or from the fitting, andwhen' in applied position providing a dead airspace` between the housingand the fitting, which greatly adds to the heat insulating properties ofthe cover. Y

Specifically, the covering comprises a sectional body B formed of anysuitable heat insulating material such as asbestos, mineral wool, anddiatomaceous earth; The two sections of the body are identical inconstruction so that when assembled with their confronting edges incontacting relation, they produce a T-shaped housing in which the pipefitting is enclosed. i

The insulating body B is incased in a protecting casing C preferably,although not necessarily, formed of sheet metal and made Vof twosections corresponding in form to the `sectlons of the body so thatwhen-assembled they completely incase the body so asto effectivelyprotect the latter. The body Vis permanently secured to the casing inany suitable manner such as, for example, by applying silica of soda tothe contacting surfaces of the body and casing, or by the application ofscrew bolts 15 thereto in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3. As hereshown, the screws 15 extend through the casing C and through washers orplates 16, the inner ends of the screws being engaged by nuts 17. Thewashers and nuts are countersunk, as shown in order to permit theapplication of a protecting liner L to the inner surface of theinsulating body for the purpose of protecting such body against thedeteriorating action of water and rust emanating` from the fitting.

The sections of the casing C, and Vconsequently the sections of theinsulating body, are adapted to be secured to each other to produce thehousing` for enclosing the fitting, and to this end I provide splitbands 18 removably fitted on the end portions of the casing` and havingout-turned ends to provide ears 19 through which bolts Q0 are extendediter constrictingthebands into firm clamping relation with respect tothe casing sections so as to hold the entire insulating covering inembracing relation to the fitting. lith the covering in appliedposit-ion, as illustrated in Figs. 17 2, and j it will be clear that thecoveringprovides a heat insulating medium for the fitting by reason ofthe heat insulating material eniployed. Further7 however3 the coveringcombines a dead air space in surrounding relation to the fitting Whichfurther adds to the insulating` property of the covering as a Whole.

To remove the covering 'from the tting it is only necessary to lirstmove the bands 18 when the tivo sections can be removed irom oppositesides of the fitting, and Without7 in any manner, injuring the parts ofwhich the covering is composed and thereby permitting the indefinitereuse ot the covering as Will be understood.

Although I have herein shown and described only one forni of insulatingeasing` embodying my invention, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made herein Without departing from thespirit of the invention and the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

An insulating covering i'or pipe fittings comprising a sectional body ofheat insulating material shaped to house a fitting and to surround pipesextending from the fitting so as to completely house the latter, asectional liner for the body shaped to provide dead air spaces betweenthe latter and flanges of the fitting and projecting beyond the latterto surround the pipes extending from the fitting, a sectional protectingcasing for the body separate from the liner, means for securing the bodyto the casing, and means for securing the casing` sections to eachother.

EDIVARD A. SMITH.

